THE agricultural programme being offered at Newell High School has been boosted with a new hydroponics unit, 24 goats, five beehives, 15 rabbits, 70 white leghorn layers and various farm tools.

The school, located in the Pedro Plains division of south west St Elizabeth, was aided by Food for the Poor Jamaica.

“We wrote to Food for the Poor requesting some farm tools for the department. They came, delivered the tools, and were impressed with what we were doing in agriculture. We thought the donation would have ended there, but they then asked how else they could assist with the agricultural programme of the school. You can just imagine how happy we were to hear that question,” said Sophia Vassell, agriculture teacher.

Vassell said the hydroponics unit is the most treasured of all that has been donated, because the students are now able to grow plants in water without using soil as their buffer.

The school’s hydroponics unit is a 1,200 square foot structure, with galvanised pipes, shade netting, PVC pipes, water tanks, an electric water pump, fittings and a screen filter in which the students have started growing lettuce. They also grow ornamental and floral plants in a shade house.

“There are few greenhouses in the parish, and we don’t really have a hydroponics system of this nature on this side of the island, so I am extremely proud to know that Newell High School is taking the lead in this regard and will become a model school for all the other educational institutions in this region,” Vassell said.

According to Audrey Ellington, vice principal and former agriculture teacher at the school, since the school received the donation, she has observed an increase in the interest students have for the subject of agriculture.

“The students are all very excited. They are so excited and it has really motivated them to participate and learn more about agriculture. As someone who has a passion for agriculture, this is really refreshing. Words are not enough to say thanks to Food for the Poor for everything they have done for us.”

Selena Ledgister-Kellier, agriculture manager, FFP Jamaica, said the organisation could not resist helping.

“We had a vision to do an agriculture programme that was different from the traditional greenhouse units that we would normally donate, hence the construction of the hydroponics system at Newell High School. We wanted to introduce students to an alternative agricultural technology that is a non-traditional way of growing vegetables,” Ledgister-Kellier said.

“This is a pilot project for us and, depending on the success, we will definitely introduce this kind of technology to other institutions. This project is also about stimulating the minds of the youth by giving them an alternative method to grow plants, which is both technological and scientific in nature.”